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Teen runaway sought

NEW BREMEN — Two local schools went on a low-level lock down, controlling access to the doors Thursday morning after a runaway juvenile from New Bremen reportedly took a vehicle and a shotgun and rifle from his grandparents’ house in Shelby County.

New Bremen Police Chief Mike Skinner reported the controlled access situation was at the discretion of the schools. The request to control access lifted after the runaway reportedly indicated on his Facebook page he was headed toward Tennessee. Police also patrolled the area searching for the student, checking a few likely locations, Skinner said, and the young man was not found. Police officials stressed no threats were made against the schools.

New Bremen Superintendent Howard Overman said the police came to the school to apprise them of the situation. The school followed procedure to keep anyone who wasn’t a teacher or student out of the building.

Minster Police Chief Randy Houseworth reported that controlled access was considered prudent, given the situation, but Minster lifted the control at 11:50 a.m. based upon information officials received.

The One Call system worked just as it should, Houseworth said, with parents receiving notification and the police spreading the word through social media.

Auglaize County Sheriff Al Solomon said officials are still searching for the 17-year-old New Bremen male. The teen was reported missing by his father at approximately 7 a.m. Thursday. Solomon said it is unknown why the juvenile left his home.

“The New Bremen and Minster Police Departments both notified the schools in the villages and a controlled lockdown was put into place,” Solomon said in a news release. “A controlled lockdown is just an extra precautionary measure schools will do in a case like this. There was no information that the missing juvenile is intending any harm to any school student or official. However, with the controlled lock down an all call message went out to parents of the schools. This of course started rumors of a potential incident at the schools which was not the case.”

The vehicle taken was a 1977 Chevrolet 1500 pick up that is maroon in color. The license plate number is Ohio ENM9083.